While Chimacum School District voters widely supported the district’s ask for more funding in the special election Feb. 13, Quilcene School District voters denied their own district’s request for a levy hike.

As of Feb. 16, 63 percent of Chimacum school district voters supported Proposition No. 1, while 36 percent voted against. There were 4,674 votes cast.

In a nearly split vote, Quilcene voters turned down their school district’s levy increase request with 51 percent against the ballot measure and 48 percent in support. There were 790 votes cast.

According to state law, the results will become official, or certified, on Feb. 23 – 10 days after the election date.

“We’re really grateful that the voters trust and support us,” said Chimacum School District Superintendent Scott Mauk. “We asked for a little more money this time, but we didn’t want to ask for too much.”

Listed on the ballot as Chimacum School District No. 49 Proposition No. 1, the four-year capital levy rate will cost school district homeowners $0.66 per $1,000 in assessed value. For a homeowner with a property valued at $600,000, that equates to $396 per year. The new levy rate begins in 2025 and means an increase from the 2024 capital levy amount of $0.39 per $1,000 in assessed value.

“I think we’ve done a really good job being economical and resourceful and stewarding the resources in a way that we’ve got the biggest bang for the buck on the funds we could get,” said Kristina Mayer, Chimacum School District board chair. “We appreciate that voters understood that having our facilities safe, clean and up to date for our students is incredibly important. We’re really grateful they were on board.”

Mauk said that while the levy funds won’t cover all the district’s capital projects, it will allow them to tackle many of the district’s most pressing issues while allowing them to protect the general fund for academic and classroom-centered improvements.

Election success, said Mauk and Mayer, means the district’s fire suppression equipment in the gym and auditorium can be brought up to date, HVAC systems upgraded, and new playgrounds installed at the elementary schools.

Mayer said the playgrounds hadn’t seen upgrades or improvements in more than 20 years. Mauk added that the playground improvements will make the outdoor spaces more accessible to all students.

“We haven’t asked for more in 12 years, but with the cost of goods and services and inflation, it was absolutely necessary that we ask for more,” Mayer said.

While Chimacum staff and administrators are celebrating a decisive victory at the ballot box, Leader staff will continue to watch Quilcene School District election results until certification on Feb. 23.

BRINNON

School District No. 46

Replacement of Expiring Levy for Educational Programs and Operations

Yes:  358 votes - 70.47%

No:  150 votes - 29.53%

CHIMACUM

School District No. 49

Proposition No. 1

Renewal Capital Projects Levy

Yes:  2,950 votes - 63.12%

No:  1,724 votes - 36.88%

QUEETS/CLEARWATER

School District No. 20

Proposition No. 1

Educational Programs

and Operations Levy

Yes:  13 votes - 72.22%

No:  5 votes - 27.78%

QUILCENE

School District No. 48

Proposition No. 1

Replacement Educational

Programs and Operations Levy

Yes:  383 votes - 48.48%

No:  407 votes - 51.51%